How to Start Getting Work as an Illustrator
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- In this video, I discuss tips and suggestions for new or aspiring freelance illustrators who are looking to build and sustain a successful illustration career. The video aims to answer common questions and provide guidance for finding new work opportunities.
I’ll cover everything from getting the word out, tips for networking, building your online presence (including social media), content posting strategies, self promo, reaching out to art directors-
and some other things you might not expect!
Remember, while these strategies can help you build and sustain your freelance illustration career, the journey will undoubtably vary for everyone. Be patient, persistent, and adaptable in your pursuit of success in the illustration industry. You can do it!
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DISCLOSURE: I sometimes review and/or link to products & services I have used (or tried). When available, I use referral links, which means if you click one of the links in this video or description and make a purchase I may receive a small commission or other compensation.
Often times, the links to products/gear are links to those products on Amazon. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for content creators to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites.
For more freelance illustration content check out this playlist! ua-cam.com/play/PLAufnRAvMJPARED8Bo9DEYtvvjQ7C7DIe.html
It's hard to imagine your early career is going anywhere out of college when you have no work yet and just have to make art to build that portfolio and hope to impress someone. I found it daunting, but your tips and talks were actually comforting in that fact. A time of no work is merely a period in my journey, one I can spend productively with art and other strategies to find work, and you reminded me of this. Thank you so much. You're the best.
Sir, I am so thankful for your channel! I appreciate the tips, how-to's, and personal accounts and "learn from my mistakes." Each presentation is full of material to learn from. Thank you! Rob
I'm not a visual artist but these tips really apply for almost any creative career! Great video
I'm so glad!
The videos I was looking for today! Here's my story: Finally, after years of learning, studying and searching for what I was looking for in illustration, I am happy! But! I don't know where my illustrations belong. Are they good for books? Editorial? Brands...? How do we know? Cuz I wanna make this work already!
Hey Inya! I find that many illustrators, if not most, tend to work in lots of different areas. For example, I do advertising, publishing, editorial, branding/packaging, etc. Off of the top of my head I'd recommend Lisa Congdon's book Art, Inc. amzn.to/40rkuWc
@@chris-piascik thank you, Chris! I tend to overthink these things, I know what I would love to work on/with, but I sometimes get caught up in asking myself, "do I fit in?". I will definitely have a look at your recommendation!
So many great tips in here. Thank you, Chris!
Glad you thought so!
You definitely inspired me! And you made me realize I’m right in the middle of this art journey of mine! I shall keep going! Thanks for doing what you do!!!!
Cool! You got this!
Hey Chris I hope you are doing good. Great video. Thank you so much. I’m trying to follow in your footsteps. Now I know some other platforms to post my art work on. I’m going to give those platforms a shot. Thank you again. Hope you have a great day. Stay healthy and stay safe. ~CFA~😊❤
Glad you found this helpful!
@@chris-piascik It was very helpful . 😊❤️🙏
hi chris! i have an idea for a video or part of a video:
what you do when you don’t feel passionate about a piece you’ve been working on anymore
or when you feel overwhelmed by a large project
Thanks for the suggestion. I actually sort of went through that process in real time during this video: ua-cam.com/video/3EX3rtOCA0s/v-deo.htmlsi=N488uDSFWOZv1FDS
Thanks for the tips! Great video
Glad it was helpful!
Great and helpful vids, thank you but what's with the dropped FPS?? I noticed it in this video and in another one also!
I think it has to do with me filming the last 2 with Ecamm. It makes a lot of stuff easier for me, but I’m finding it’s not worth the loss in quality, so I won’t be doing that anymore. Glad you found the content helpful though!
Thanks so much for the tips, Chris!
Happy to help!
GREAT tips again!!! I really LOVE the last tip you gave with working with someone in the pass. I will do this with the email. Thank you and Yes, I'm sending 15-20 emails every week to the same Art Directors. I send the same email to the Art Dir maybe I should change the emails up little? LOL What really bugs me is the ART work Im seeing in the magazines is NOT THAT GOOD. Im surprised the Art Dir not giving me a shot? Just Funny! I will check out the other video you suggest! Happy Holidays!!
Thanks! I find that personalizing your communications can go a long way.
Thanks for great tips! I'll definitely practice some of them!
No worries!
This was awesome advice, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
This was a really helpful video, specially now that I'm trying to get back to social media, mostly IG
(I was burned out of it for like 3 years)
Right now I'm very happy with my art style and a lot more confident with adding lettering here and there (to be honest thanks to one of you video too 😂 make me feel more free and stop to overthinking about the lettering and have fun)
But the IG it's like really hard to reach new people right now at least for me 😅
So don't blame me if I do a caricature of you and tag you hahaha 🤣
Hah glad it was helpful! IG is definitely tricky these days.
I like your stuff
Thanks!
Very helpful thank you 🙏🏻
You’re welcome 😊
your videos are always super helpful. just curious. what is your video and recording rig for this show?every time i see that white microphone it reminds me to ask you. thanks
Thanks so much! My man camera is the Sony ZV-E10 with a Sigma lens, I also use a Sony ZV-1 for my overhead shots. The mic is the Elgato Wave 3. I have everything listed here: www.amazon.com/shop/chrispiascik/list/2A3DF48N1WV63?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfchrispiascik_WSTE8C07B8YH6NV1H3FJ
@@chris-piascik oh wow, thanks for the list.
Aaahhh…Thanks Chris🎉
Hello chris do you have a video how to set artwork price? Because sometimes im scared if i set it too high. Thank youu
I haven’t done one yet, but I think I talk a little bit about it in this video ua-cam.com/video/U5lTt2wBf_A/v-deo.htmlsi=zGcHGjGBbCkpdDVF
@@chris-piascikthank youu
Hi Chris,
Recently i was working on a project in adobe fresco and it had weirdly converted my work from vector into some sort of photoshop layer that I couldn't convert back. Any idea on how to fix this? Could you make a video on it possibly? Thanks :)
This can happen if you merge the vector layer with a pixel layer, or inadvertently tap “convert to pixel layer”. The only way back is by undoing when it happens unfortunately.
Do you have any advice on how to be an inker. I'd love to do that digitally on Fresco, but I don't have any clue how someone gets that work. I know they would want fast work, but I would want to take my time.
Unfortunately I don’t really know much about that, it’s a very specific niche/thing that I don’t have any experience with.
AD's are checking their spam folders (at least clever ones) don't worry. Send 3-4 images attached to the email. Also, I think designing a "special" piece just to get an AD's attention is a waste of time.
Seems like you didn’t need to watch this video. Thanks for the comment.
Hey, no problem. @@chris-piascik
You shouldn't lie to your audience though. Right dude? The dudley the dude?@@chris-piascik
Well I don’t believe I did. I’ve seen it work in regard to creating something a bit unique for “wish list” clients. In regard to the spam thing, I miss things all the time in mine and I’m not being inundated with people wanting me to hire them.
@@chris-piascik Are you teaching my job to me? why are you making ADs job harder? why are you advising people not to attach images to their emails?
Thank you! This one I asked!! :)
Hope it’s helpful!
Your latest post is a treasure trove, @AlphaDTFPrint! 🏆 What's your opinion on DTF printing for custom clothing? Let's have a conversation! 👚💭
Thanks, I do use some DTF for my shop. It can be great when the quality is up to par. I’ve found some isn’t great.
a lot of good advice! thank you for sharing
Glad it was helpful!
turn the mic up
My audio was low? I checked the levels before exporting…
@@chris-piascik maybe its me, the whole video just seemed more quiet than another video i had on afterwards. Scared the bajeezus out of me.